Dinosaur Jr

21st Century Appearances: 2007 NME Stage, 2005 Main Stage,

The Defining Reading Moment: The sea of distorted noise booming out of the main stage speakers announcing the return of the alternative rock legends after an eight year leave of absence.

2005 saw the reunion of dysfunctional alternative noise pioneers, Dinosaur Jr. Their first full reunion with founding member Lou Barlow in 17 years. Their raw, visceral distortion tore through the main-stage with a newly revived vigor and aggression. Reading Festival was a regular for Dinosaur Jr in the 90‘s until their collapse in 1997, but they ripped through with a tenacity that suggested no time had passed since their split. But it had. Older, wiser, balder and grey-er , they reminded those who attended just how loud, abrasive and melodic alternative music can be and that age is just a number in the realms of rock.

Time away had refined their dysfunction and chaos into a well oiled, grinding machine. Wielding their tools like axes in battle, they were not a band, they were vessels for a beautiful raw noise that evoked thoughts of Reading’s past. J Mascis warped his soundscapes like a depraved surgeon, and despite the underwhelming crowd, was defiant till the end. 2007’s pitiful crowd exemplified the change that Reading has succumb to in recent years. Which is a shame, because Dinosaur Jr are one of rocks true alternative figureheads, and truly one of the bands that made the festival what it is today. Adam Grylls